Former AG of Canada Intervenes in Jason Puracal Case in Nicaragua

This article was written and submitted by Eric Volz. Volz is the managing director of The David House Agency – a U.S.- based, strategic resource organization supporting individuals facing injustice abroad. Their expertise lies in managing cases in which political and cultural undertones complicate the judicial process. Other cases in which he and his organization have been involved in include: Amanda Knox and Rafaelli Solecito (Italy), The Hikers (Iran), Jason Puracal (Nicaragua), Amir Hekmati (Iran), as well as international child custody and parental kidnapping matters. Volz is also the author of Gringo Nightmare. Visit his website here.

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The wrongful conviction of Jason Puracal in Nicaragua is monumental and serves as a chilling milestone in the emerging trend of international “show” trials. This case has serious implications for citizens of the Global North studying, working, traveling, or retiring abroad.

In short, 10 years ago, Jason Puracal moved to Nicaragua to serve in the Peace Corp. He fell in love with the country, its people, and the woman that would become his wife. Today, he is struggling to survive the fight of his life. He has been held in a Nicaraguan prison since November 2010 on sham charges of drug trafficking, money laundering and organized crime. There is no evidence linking him to any crimes. Held for over nine months in subhuman conditions before he went to trial, this September he was convicted and sentenced to 22-years in prison – by a “judge” was not even a licensed attorney, in violation with Nicaraguan and international law. (click to see Jason Z. Puracal v. Government of Nicaragua)

Jason Puracal with family

While he waits his appeal, he is slowly dying in prison. He has been denied food, water, and proper medical care. He suffered from infections caused by the inhumane prison conditions and has developed an inflammatory condition due to the bacteria in the food. His family is concerned he will not live long enough see his own appeal.

Recent Development:

Last week saw a unique face off between a former Attorney General of Canada and Attorney General of Nicaragua over the case of this American. Former Attorney General of Canada, and private counsel to Nelson Mandela, Irwin Cotler, addressed a powerful letter to the Attorney General of Nicaragua, Julio Centeno, urging him to order a review of Jason’s wrongful conviction. Read letter here. The letter notes as well that the California Innocence Project has formally accepted the case.

Centeno responded in the press claiming that the conviction was delivered according to law.

For all of the politicians & government officials, who have any juice…you should all band together & STOP this injustice. None of you should get another nights sleep until this man is free. This is NOT right . How can you call yourselves representatives of the American people & not work together to correct this miscarriage of justice..

Dear Crystal, the problem is that these government officials are making over $100.000 thousand dollars a year, live in a mansion and at the end they do not care about you, me or anyone in trouble. Both here in Canada as it is the case in the US. Our governments do not care and will let us get rotten in jail in a god forsaken country. Well they are doing it to their own people right here, so what makes us think they will move a finger outside the country??

Let’s not let this go…it needs to become a nightmare for the Nicaraguan government; hopefully one that they need to make go away. As long as we all stand together and keep it in the spot light of public opinion we give this man a chance.

Hindsite is 20-20… Jason should have left after his stint with the Peace Corps years ago. This is one of the poorest countries on the planet. Who did he do business with to develop such a lucrative real estate business? Maybe he did not traffic in drugs – but his clients could have. What doesn’t make sense, is that he initially went over to a dirt poor country, under the auspices of helping out their communities, because they are so poor. Then he finishes his volunteer work and decides to open a lucrative real estate business… and then his dealings are only with the rich. Maybe he used his position in the Peace Corps to his advantage to become some type of real estate mogul, in this poor country. I am sure after his volunteer work was done… he did not use any of the proceeds from his lucrative real estate enterprise – to help out the poor indigenios people… that he originally came to help. Now he finds himself in a pickle, he is alleging that they hold Kangaroo courts and he was unjustly convicted. That may be true… but who knew that better than Jason. And yet he continued to stay on in a country, that has a corrupt legal system. That was a very risky decision on his part. And when people put themselves in those type of precarious positions… there must be substantial monetary gain. Otherwise he would have left long ago. Why do drug dealers in the U.S.A. continually put themselves in dangerous situations, and risk lengthy prison sentences… it is because of all the money they make in the sale of drugs. Jason is a grown man. He spent at least two years working in a volunteer capacity with the Nicaraguan people. I am sure the families he worked with discussed with him many things. I am sure that many families in the communities he worked in – had a family member or family members in prison. And i am sure many of them were inncoent and convicted by a corrupt legal system. And the prison conditions i am sure he was well aware of. And the fact that some foreigners have been railroaded. So, why in the world would he stay? His wife and kid were legal Americans through marriage. He should have left the country and came back to his own country where we have a “fair” legal system, at least for the rich… and made his fortune here. The fact is he chose to stay there. He chose to do business there. So, he has to take responsibility fr making bad choices. I do not believe he was railroaded at all. Just because it is a third world country does not mean they are a bunch of ignorant savages. Nor does it mean that they don’t have reputable judges and lawyers. Most criminals, including the ten million in this country or more believe that they were wrongly convicted. Criminals rarely tell the truth. Most people don’t tell the truth. Americans assume that because this is a third world country, that they are uneducated and threw him in prison for no reason. Well… minorities and poor people in this country feel the same way. Many people in this country are incarcerated because they did not have the monies to secure a good legal defense. Likewise many people are free because they have money or their parents are in positions of power. Prime example: Trayvon and Zimmerman. He murdered a kid in cold blood and he has not been brought to justice because his father was or is a judge. Even when they wanted to charge him with manslaughter his father used his influence to set Zimmerman free. And as of yet he still has not been arrested. And millions rallied, entertainers spoke out, including the President of the United States, and there has been no justice for Trayvon. So, if the President of the United States can’t secure justice for Trayvon… how can the United States change a foreign legal system… for Jason. You have to clean up the filth in your own backyard first… and there is a lot of filth to be cleaned up… when a wonderful, sweet and INNOCENT child was MURDERED.

Imani,
Many people live in foreign countries. I lived in Asia with my wife, visiting many SE Asian countries for business. I never had a problem, and for the most part you can go about your business without any difficulties. But if someone put a target on you, it does not really matter if you are innocent or guilty, you will be found guilty. If someone is wrongly convicted, then it is something that should be overturned. The reason that it happens in countries like that is because no one does anything. Everyone says that is just the way it is. If they started standing up for justice, then maybe their country just might change.

As for the Zimmerman/Martin issue, take that to some other forum. The cases are not even remotely similar or connected.

You American guys must learn that you are not welcome in Nicaragua, moreover not in San Juan del Sur. In the case of John; someone wanted to kick him out of business and he achieved that goal. @ El Prisionero. Vos andas de sapo. Si tienes acceso en la modelo al internet es porque eres de fianza, unos de los lameloides de los oficiales que anda haciendo su negocios de celda a celda; malnacido porque lloras vos?

Hey Queteimporta, when, where and who has ever said that in Nicaragua we do not welcome Americans?? You need to wake up and move forward. The problem in my beloved Nicaragua is not the people. It is the corrupt judges, Cuban trained police and the corrupt left wing communist government system. I am Nicaraguan, I see the abuses and human right violations from the Nicaraguan police. I see how corrupt they are, how the judges abuse the criminal code and the constitution. And yes the same happens right here in the USA and Canada but we are not talking about them, we are talking about Nicaragua. Wake up man we are in 2014. And before you verbal abuse me on the web, FYI I have University education in North America, fully bilingual, 3rd degree black belt in Karate Do and a former Sheriff with 14 years of experience.

Hello everyone. I was borne in Nicaragua but have lived in Canada for the past 23 years. I have university education in Clinical Social Work and 14 years experience as a Sheriff. I will be moving back to Nicaragua and would like to know how I can be of any help regarding support, investigation, etc to help the individuals who have been wrongfully convicted by the Corrupt Nicaraguan police, judges and left wing government???